Listen to this letter written to Ann Landers.

“Dear Ann, I’m a 46-year-old woman, divorced, with 3 grown children. After several months of chemotherapy following a mastectomy for breast cancer, I was starting to put my life back together when my doctor called with the results of my last checkup. They had found more cancer, & I was devastated.

“My relatives had not been supportive. I was the first person in the family to have cancer & they didn’t know how to behave toward me. They tried to be kind, but I had the feeling they were afraid that it was contagious. They called on the phone to see how I was doing, but kept their distance. And that really hurt.

“Last Saturday I headed for the laundromat. You see the same people there almost every week. We exchange greetings, & make small talk. So I pulled into the parking lot, determined not to look depressed, but my spirits were really low.

While taking my laundry out of the car, I looked up & saw a man, one of the regulars, leaving with his bundle. He smiled & said, ‘Good morning. How are you today?’ Suddenly I lost control of myself & blurted out, ‘This is the worst day of my life! I have more cancer!’ Then I began to cry.

“He put his arms around me & just let me sob. Then he said, ‘I understand. My wife has been through it, too.’ After a few minutes I felt better, stammered out my thanks, & proceeded on with my laundry.

“About 15 minutes later, here he came back with his wife. Without saying a word, she walked over & hugged me. Then she said, ‘I’ve been there, too. Feel free to talk to me. I know what you’re going through.’

“Ann, I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. Here was this total stranger, taking her time to give me emotional support & courage to face the future at a time when I was ready to give up.

“Oh, I hope God gives me a chance to do for someone else what that wonderful woman & her husband did for me. Meanwhile, Ann, please let your readers know that even though there are a lot of hard-hearted people in this world, there are some incredibly generous & loving ones, too.”

I have no idea where this lady is today but her life was changed because of kindness and compassion.

I know there are a lot of different kinds of people in our world and sometimes it can break our heart or encourage us in our darkest moments.

There is this really smart and cool guy called Paul and he said to get rid of unwholesome but concentrate on what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen… Get rid of all bitterness, rage & anger, brawling & slander, along with every form of malice. Now before you say to much I know that is often a challenge.

We are also encouraged to Be kind & compassionate to one another, forgiving each other. I believe this is a major focus of our creator God.

Often I look around and question; Is Kindness almost a lost art today? So many people are rude & self-centered, worried about themselves, & not worried very much about others.

I will simply say; continue to Be a part of each others lives by being compassionate.

Love and Kindness talked about is easily ignored. But Love and Kindness demonstrated is irresistible. I really want to model this; always.

Let’s flood our mind with good thoughts and I promise you it will compel you and I to a greater level of kindness and compassion. Believe it or not it will show on our face like moonbeams, sunbeams and a glorious light.

A very brief blog post today about my random thoughts. Just something to ponder.

“Things that matter are not easy. Feelings of happiness are easy. Happiness is not. Flirting is easy. Love is not. Saying you’re friends is easy. Being friends is not.” ― David Levithan, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List

Never allow the trivial, the least of the things that matter overpower or circumvent the important things in life.

No matter what; don’t place family as second class, second place or play second fiddle.

Not about what you have or have not but who you are and what you are gonna do with it. Hence it’s the legacy you will leave behind.

Do not care overly much for wealth or power or fame, or one day you will meet someone who cares for none of these things, and you will realize how poor you have become. Rudyard Kipling

In all sincerity I want to love and be loved.

Let’s start the summer in love and gratefulness.

Don’t you just love summer; fresh, clean, vibrant, sunny, childhood laze, pure, birds singing, bright flowers, relaxation, excitement, freeing, breeze, comfort, growth, smell of fresh mowed grass, lavender and lilac, lusciousness of the trees, long evenings, smell of BBQ, barefoot -oh the touch of crisp nature under your feet, taste of cold lemon tea, laughter of grandbabies playing in the garden. Watching the fantasies in the cloud. Quality time with family and friends. Summer gives strength for winter ahead. Reguveniation and energy from the sun is simply wonderful.

Let’s take those attributes of Summer and make them live in the people we know and love.

Butterflies are Graceful, Enchanting And freeThey are the epitome that caterpillars never give up.

However today I would like to mention butterflies in a different way.

I’m sure having butterflies is a common occurrence.

Why do I get butterflies in my tummy?

Isn’t it amazing how our body is interconnected.

The stomach/digestive system in linked to a person’s thoughts and emotions.

Stomach butterflies are associated with [according to scientists] the body’s fight or flight response. When the brain perceives a possible threat to our survival it sets the alarm. Raising our heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. The hormones and adrenaline is released and we become a wicked mess.

I guess in a way butterflies are a sensitivity to fight or flight response. While having butterflies in the tummy every now and again isn’t harmful but if it becomes an interference in our lives then it would be a good idea to seek help.

I still think it amazing that if we aren’t sensitive to our own thoughts, just plain nerves or even problems, crises and reactions; the butterflies will come out to play and cause a disturbance to make you listen.

Sometimes the butterflies are a hint that we are indeed alive and well.

So

Don’t ignore the butterfly

It’s the fluttering of the lone butterfly.
That quiet voice.
Softer then an ache.
Not as harsh as nawing
It’s just enough flutter
To cause to pause.

Did you have cause to pause
Today?
Did you stop?
See many blessings
Amidst the thorns?
Smell the flowers?
Aroma of a meal?
Chatter of family
And friends
The squirrel
In the back yard,

Yogurt or yoghurt or yoghourt; is a dairy product (nut milks, such as almond milk, and coconut milk can also be used) produced by bacterialfermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as “yogurt cultures”. Fermentation of lactose by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to give yogurt its texture and its characteristic tang.[Wikpedia.]

to relinquish one’s possession of (as a position of advantage or point of superiority)

to be fruitful or productive

to give up and cease resistance or contention -submit

give way to pressure, persuasion

to give way under physical force (as bending, stretching, or breaking)

to give place or precedence or acknowledge the superiority of someone else

to give way to or become succeeded by someone or something else

In this self-usurping/self-sufficient/don’t tell-me-what-to-do society; Yield is a very difficult word! Don’t go off the cuff let’s slow down just for a few moments. Yield is not necessarily a bad thing. Yes I agree in some rare cases it is.

In its place there is nothing wrong with a surrender or submit (oneself) to another:

In New Brunswick I came to a covered, one lane bridge with a yield sign on both end. Yes yield signs had been placed at both ends of the bridge. Drivers from both directions were requested to give right of way. It was a reasonable and gracious way of preventing a head-on collision.

I personally try my best to follow the commands of the Bible one of which is to “be subject to one another”- it is simply a reasonable and gracious command to let the other have the right of way and avoid interpersonal head-on collisions.

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction–or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

The word ‘Yield’ is also obedience to what is right.Here is a funny; hilarious story.

Neil Marten, a member of the British Parliament, was once giving a group of his constituents a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. During the course of the visit, the group happened to meet Lord Hailsham, then lord chancellor, wearing all the regalia of his office. Hailsham recognized Marten among the group and cried, “Neil!” Not daring to question or disobey the “command,” the entire band of visitors promptly fell to their knees! You get it NEIL not KNEEL.

Back to the thought of submitting/surrender or acknowledge someone of superiority.

When I say I follow God and the principles of Jesus Christ it does not absolve me of my responsibilities in life nor the consequences of my decisions or lack thereof. There are so many variables and uncertainties in life we need the power of heaven to guide us. To follow an example of perfection always helps and guides and produces growth.

Open to learn and change.

Be open to learning and change no matter where the advice comes from. Simply this; when we are criticized we ought to ask ourselves is there any truth to the criticism. If it does, we should learn from it, even when it’s not in the right motivation or right spirit. IF you acted wrongly; admit and go on with a new vigor to change.

Surrender your walk, journey, lessons, reputation to please the creator and bring honor to yourself and your community and family.

There are some things we should never allow to dictate how we should live our lives and succeed.

CRADLES OF EMINENCE

In a famous study by Victor and Mildred Goertzel, entitled Cradles of Eminence, the home backgrounds of 300 highly successful people were investigated. These 300 subjects had made it to the top. They were men and women whose names everyone would recognize as brilliant in their fields, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, Clara Barton, Gandhi, Einstein, and Freud. The intensive investigation into their early home lives yielded some surprising findings:

* Three fourths of the children were troubled either by poverty, by a broken home, or by rejecting, over possessive, or dominating parents.

* Seventy-four of 85 writers of fiction or drama and 16 of the 20 poets came from homes where, as children, they saw tense psychological drama played out by their parents.

* Physical handicaps such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs characterized over one-fourth of the sample.

There are some things we never yield to. There are some pressures we never bow to. To give way to dysfunctional pressure, abuse, violence, demeaning behaviour where we find ourselves lost and undone. WE can learn to be fearless in the face of fear, abuse and dysfunction.

The flip side to this is when a family is free of abuse and oppression, it can be the place of joyful learning where we share our deepest secrets. Where we are willing to sacrifice to give without losing who we are as individuals but making the family unit beautiful and loved.

I love what J. Dobson says. “By learning to yield to the loving authority…of his/her parents, a child learns to submit to other forms of authority which will confront him later in his life, his teachers, school principal, police, neighbors and employers.”

“Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Winston Churchill

Tozer speaks of faith. A surrender that does not demean or loss but enhances. Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.

True Godly surrender and worship is more than singing and praising God. Worship involves us doing, not just singing. It involves us caring for others, and meeting the needs of others. If we truly worship God, we will be involved in the activities of kindness, compassion and love selflessly. What God can do with a life who loves and lives in humility. Nothing but amazing.

Rick Warren said that The heart (core) of worship is an attitude of complete surrender to God, which is an unnatural concept in light of today’s competitive culture. But it is the natural response of the Christian into God’s love and mercy.

“God is a Lover and a Liberator, and surrendering to Him brings freedom, not bondage. When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus, we discover that He is not a tyrant, but a Savior; not a boss, but a Brother; not a dictator, but a Friend.” (pg. 79) Purpose Driven LIfe.

I know there is a certain amount of faith and trust required to trust God to be a major source of living life on this beautiful planet.

For me God is amazing and God’s love is amazing and God helps me be a better me.

The ‘yield’ is more than progeny but the yield of our life. If our yield is great we leave some wonderful memories behind.

In the north of England and Scotland, the turnip is called neep; the word turnip itself is an old compound of neep. Neep often also refers to the large, yellow rutabaga root vegetable which is also known as the “swede” (from “Swedish turnip”). Where else Wikipedia

Turnip leaves are sometimes eaten as “turnip greens” – The turnip root is high only in vitamin C. The green leaves of the turnip top (“turnip greens”) are a good source of vitamin A, folate, vitamin C, vitamin K and calcium. Turnip greens are high in lutein (8.5 mg / 100 g).

In my homeland of Newfoundland and Labrador Turnip greens is a TRUSTWORTHY delicacy. So many long for the summer months to get a taste of these delights for at least two months of the year. Turnips are eaten year round but turnip greens is hard to come by.

I simply love boiled turnip mashed in butter. I actually could make a meal out of turnip alone. Nothing like an home cooked meal with mashed turnip and turnip greens. Scrumptious!

Yip the Word is trustworthy. More precisely trustworthiness.

Trustworthiness is a moral value considered to be a virtue. A trustworthy person is someone in whom you can place your trust and rest assured that the trust shall not be betrayed. A person can prove their trustworthiness by fulfilling an assigned responsibility – and as an extension of that, not to let down expectations. The responsibility can be either material, such as delivering a mail package on time, or it can be non-material such as keeping an important secret to themselves. A trustworthy person is someone that you can tell your worries and secrets to and know they won’t repeat them without your permission. In general, in order for trust to be earned, worth and integrity must be proven over time.

Trustworthiness comes to mind when we see advertisements featured.
Someone said: Never trust a restaurant that has a sign that reads, “Mama’s home cooking.” Especially, if there are no cars at that restaurant.

With that in mind; I remember when we would go on holidays and we would travel to different cities or towns we would always stop wherever the truckers stopped…we proved it time and again truckers knew where to eat.

Trustworthiness doesn’t always apply to the many sayings we frequently hear.

Yesterday TV advertisement said, “Watch out for number one” – meaning of course yourself. Is that a trustworthy saying? It is to some people but not many, because we are never to be only concerned about ourselves. THAT’S SELFISHNESS. And, the Creator I think, created us to be selfless at times.

So what does the face of Trustworthiness look like?

Here is what I believe is trustworthy qualities.

Trustworthy people are honest

Trustworthy people are loyal

Trustworthy people are not prejudiced

Trustworthy people are reliable- they keep their promises

Trustworthy people are accountable

Trustworthy people are cooperative

Trustworthy people must be truthful

Trustworthy people have integrity – you say what you doandyou do what you say

Trustworthy people stay away from gossiping – gossip betrays

Trustworthy people learn to be transparent – let other people feel with clarity what you are about-what you are and what they can expect from you

Trustworthy people forgive and ask for forgiveness

Trustworthy people are compassionate and sensitive

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Trustworthiness is a tall order but hey it is necessary. In these uncertain times and stress: we each deserve trustworthiness. Being trustworthy doesn’t mean we will never let others down. Rather, it is an attitude and a pattern of behavior that honors the trust placed in us.

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While researching a project I serendipitously found this article. I think you will find it most interesting.

If you are a person who is easily embarrassed, you may find comfort in what researchers from the University of California, Berkeley report in a paper published online this month in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: they suggest moderate embarrassment is a good thing, because it means you are also likely to be more trustworthy and generous.

Lead author Matthew Feinberg, a UC Berkeley doctoral student in psychology, told the media that “moderate levels of embarrassment are signs of virtue”.

“Our data suggest embarrassment is a good thing, not something you should fight,” he added

We can’t be perfect although we strive to be our best self. However what makes a person SO interesting is the quirky characteristic.

Quirkiness definitely first and foremost has these 6 qualities:

Curiosity about world

Find positive in things

Fully engaged in the moment

Gracious

Passion for LIfe

These 6 above then kick starts into the following:

Believe me it takes no strength to be a hater – real strength is pushing beyond your past, present, the flaws, and letting stuff go and embrace the positive more important virtues. In spite of all the virtues we should strive for, you don’t have to be a cookie cutter person you can have your own quirky ways to display love, kindness and optimism.

To be quirky means a more original, to think out of the box some would say a little off the wall. Now don’t go overboard and become so freakish people will run when you walk down the street.

I think quirky means a uniqueness.Be unique in representing the creator. Be unique in the way you love. Be unique in your creativity. Be unique in a way you make your imprint on this planet.

It’s the humor and tenderness combined. It’s the sensitivity and stalwart combined.

A truly quirky person does not, I repeat does not have to fall in line with current commercials and advertisements and society’s expectation of what is beautiful in body image, size or color schemes. Not focused on mass media and trends not changing to please everyone except the creator. To know yourself well. To follow true to excelling in vitreous living.

Of course quirkiness has to allow for individual daily ways of living or rituals, likes and dislikes.

My quirks

Can’t sleep without 3 pillows
Love the feel of Clean sheets
Don’t spring out of bed Wake up in the morning very slowly
Love clean for others
Love clean floor

Love mirrors
Like neatness
Don’t like people yelling
Prefer children’s cartoons
Like to lay on the beach wrapped in quilt who am I kidding I love being wrapped in a quilt all day long
Love sitting on lazy boy chair with my laptop
Love the words ‘I love you’ – some days I may say it 50 times
Love licorice
I always announce that I have to go the washroom
Won’t drink after anyone [using the glass belonging to anyone] else not even my husband
Won’t use a facecloth used by someone else
I always have a ‘To do’ list
Must shower before housecleaning

I must know major parts or sometimes the ending of movies with a lot of suspense or I can’t watch them

I could say more but you might think I’m crazy 😀

How quirky are you?

Quirky Facts:

The leg muscles of a locust are about 1000 times more powerful than an equal weight of human muscle.

A sneeze travels out of your mouth at over 100 mph.

The blue whale can produce sounds up to 188 decibels. This is the loudest sound produced by a living animal and has been detected as far away as 530 miles.

There are between 100,000,000,000 and 1,000,000,000,000 stars in a normal galaxy.

By raising your legs slowly and laying on your back, you can’t sink in quicksand. [haven’t tested it though]

Diamonds are the hardest substance known to man.

On average, Elephants sleep for about 2 hours per day.

Shark’s teeth are literally as hard as steel.

Two out of every three couples turn their heads to the right when they kiss.

Talk about a rush! Kissing releases the same neurotransmitters in our brains as parachuting, bungee jumping, and running.

Quirky Quotes:

“I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.” ~ Ronald Reagan

Just before Christmas I ordered the Plum Tree Books New Poem Card Collection.

Card Collection!

♫ ♪ ♫ ♫ ♫ ☼ ♪

To back up a little I joined a very intellectual, intelligent, artistic group of musicians, poets, artist, writers, authors, editors, publishers, producers the whole gamut. Now Imagine my surprise, I; yes me; was accepted into this elite group of people from all parts of the world called The Plum Tree.

It is amazing, humbling, stretching, out of the box, out of the comfort zone group – Plum Tree.
Check out The Plum Tree website to get a picture of the the talent that is offered.

To order the Poem Card Collection here.Niamh Clune is the founder of The Plum Tree/Books, an award-winning social entrepreneur, an environmental campaigner and a singer/songwriter.

Niamh Clune of Plum Tree Books started a New Poem Card Collection for purchasing. On each card an artist within the group has their work displayed.

These cards come with attachable poems [written by Niamh Clune] and are unique! Some wonderful artists, including Marta Pelrine Bacon, Maria Antonietta Terrana, Cher Duncombe and Susie Bertie whose images captured and displayed talent. All of these ladies donated works to auction for the Song Of Sahel earlier in the year.

Imagine a copy of such fantastic artwork within my hands. I was so excited I did not want to let them go.

What does a person do when you cannot purchase original works of art?
I thought I would do a collage and order more cards to give to friends, family, neighbors and people for birthdays, thank you’s and celebrations.

I did not do my traditional retro style of collage. I was a little more reserved because I wanted the artwork to remain mostly intact so my collage was a little conservative.

Here is the artists’ work. To check their website please click their name.

Art by Marta Pelrine Bacon
Poem by Niamh Clune I’ll grow a tree just for you with diamonds on and chocolates too and tell the silver moon to cast a light upon you, unsurpassed, on all you see on all you be beneath my sparkle shiny tree

Bunny Wisdom

Art by Marta Pelrine-Bacon
Poem by Niamh Clune One day when you’re as big as me, you’ll eat the apple from the tree and knowledge will be yours to taste in life, and love, and work, or waste But one thing you should not ignore, my heart is always at the core.

Jym
Art by Susie Bertie Poem by Niamh Clune My love is the diamond that shines for you.

M stands for Mushroom and Meekness!

Hmm mushrooms. Grown in most unusual way; usually mushrooms are grown in compost including straw and hay.

Mushroom A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. Wikipedia

It is known that edible mushrooms are consumed by humans as comestibles for their nutritional value; Mushrooms have Niacin, riboflavin, vitamin D, potassium, selenium to name a few. They are occasionally consumed for their supposed medicinal value.

The Humble Mushroom is waiting in the shadows to be picked. The meek and mild mushroom waiting for our table but don’t be fooled there are poisonous mushrooms out there so be careful.

We can be valuable and sought for like edible mushrooms or we can be toxic like poisonous mushrooms.

We choose who we want to be. Yes there are circumstance in our lives that would drive faith away, drive away love or un-nurtured love, bitterness, anger, fear, confusion; the list is endless. In acute situations it could involve counselling. However there comes a time we Must face the demons and seek after that which is good. Like Meekness.

Meekness is not exactly a sought after attribute nonetheless an important one.

How would you describe Meekness?

• Humble, patient, kind, gentle even under provocation from others • Don’t repay evil for evil • Person of good conversation, live a good life, good deeds done in humility without fanfare. • Calm temper not easily provoked • Bridles anger -Anyone can get angry • Linked to humility not prone to jealousy or envy • Goes against human pride and the ills of humanity of grabbing, greed, climb the ladder and knock the-other-person-off-the-rung- if-you-can kinda a mindset • So I’m told that meekness “literally means “strength under control • Meekness is not weakness, but strength harnessed for service • Not wimpiness or spineless as some would suggest • Doesn’t create collateral damage • Not survival of the fittest by force • Exercised in Compassion • Concerned with the interests of others • Gracious

What practical example can we give for meekness. The kid who sits alone at the lunch table; join him. I am sure you can think of others.

Quotes I am Pondering Today!

With Malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds. -Abraham Lincoln

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“I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own power, or hesitation in speaking his opinion. But really great men have a … feeling that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them.”-John Riskin

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Poem by Abraham Lincoln

Meekness is not weakness

Meekness is not weakness its strength under control, Don’t think of me as weak, shy, reserved, or timid. I’m a child of the king the half has not yet been told. No! You can’t walk all over me and treat me like a door mat, I’m not trying to straighten out the world and that settles that.

I refuse to respond to every critic and I won’t let it bother me, I may have the power to do something about it, but my time Is too valuable you see: I’ll keep my focus and stand tall doing What I’m called to do. My strength and power is in God’s control Meekness is not weakness, blessed are the chosen few.

“I hate endings. Just detest them. Beginnings are definitely the most exciting, middles are perplexing and endings are a disaster. . . . The temptation towards resolution, towards wrapping up the package, seems to me a terrible trap. Why not be more honest with the moment? The most authentic endings are the ones which are already revolving towards another beginning. That’s genius.” ― Sam Shepard